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WPCNR ALBANY INSIDER. By John F. Bailey. October 27, 2007 with official news releases: Governor Eliot Spitzer today stood with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to announce an agreement that will make New York’s licensing system the most secure and most comprehensive license system in the country – one that will offer New Yorkers maximum choice for driver’s licenses, uphold the strictest security standards and ensure the economic vitality of Upstate New York. 

However  the Governor’s plan has been modified by the Department of Homeland Security: persons in New York illegally or who are not citizens will not be able to use any licenses issued by New York State to them for safety and insurance reasons to cross borders or using the license to board air planes at aiports. WPCNR reported exclusively two weeks ago that the Governor’s New York license for illegals policy had not received either approval of  Department of Homeland Security or the Transportation Security Administration (which oversees safety at the nation’s airports), for its one license for all policy.

Mr. Chertoff, in a statement said he did not condone the Governor’s drivers license for illegal programs: “I don’t endorse giving licenses to people who are not here legally, but federal law does allow states to make that choice. What we can do is insist that licenses that do not meet federal requirements be clearly so labeled. New York has agreed to do that.”

 

The agreement means that persons residing in New York illegally will be able to obtain a third tier driver’s license from New York State, but that license i.d. will not allow its holders to fly on planes from airports or cross borders. New York has agreed also to offer an enhanced driver’s license for workers traveling across the Canadian border and back so as not to disrupt present worker, and finally, all citizens of New York will be offered a Real I.D. — acceptable program in 2009.

(WPCNR was the first to report exclusively  two weeks ago that New York was required to comply with Real I.D. standards for border and plane boardings in 2009, which the Governor’s Press Office said they did not have to comply with until 2013.The new agreement between New York and the Department of Homeland Security now brings New York and the Governor’s license plan into this timetable and rejects licenses issued to illegal aliens as government-approved documents for boarding airplanes and crossing borders.)

The Governor’s Press Office had told WPCNR, the governor would make illegal licenses identifiable so they could be distinguished from real United States citizens. Now, the Governor has reversed this policy and licenses issued under the new Homeland Security-approved agreement, will contain a phrase reading “Not for U.S. Government Purposes.”

The agreement stipulates that:

• License Illegals but with a Catch– New York State will continue to move forward with its plan to license undocumented immigrants, but will now implement that policy in tandem with the implementation of modified REAL ID regulations. When combined with the anti-fraud security measures DMV has already announced, according to DHS Secretary Chertoff, “These techniques will make New York licenses among the most secure in the country.”

 

•  Enhanced Drivers License for workers: The Department of Homeland Security will allow New York State’s DMV to begin offering an “Enhanced Drivers License” that will allow Western and Northern New Yorkers to cross the New York-Canadian border without a passport. This is critical because next year the federal government has mandated that New Yorkers will no longer be able to cross the New York-Canadian border without a passport. This agreement will ensure that the Upstate Economy does not suffer from this new federal mandate.
  
  
  
  
  
• The Department of Homeland Security, in its final regulations of REAL ID, will address the (Bush) Administration’s main concerns regarding the original draft regulations and, as a result, New York’s licensing system will be in near compliance with the anticipated final regulations as DHS has laid out.

          This accommodation will allow (New York State) to implement REAL ID far sooner than expected. The final regulations, which are due out in the next month or two, will be far less expensive to implement, and will address convenience and privacy concerns.

3 Separate Licenses 

As a result of this comprehensive license agreement, New York will offer three separate and secure licenses all used for different purposes – an “Enhanced Drivers License” for crossing the New York-Canadian border, a federally-approved license to fly on planes and a New York State license for driving and identification purposes.

The New York State license will continue to be available to both undocumented immigrants and lawful residents who simply choose not to purchase one of the federally-approved licenses, either because they already have a passport (35% of New Yorkers do), don’t want to pay an extra fee for one of these new federal licenses, or cannot meet the extra requirements necessary to get them. The state-approved license will simply say “not for U.S. government purposes.”

According to Secretary Chertoff: “In sum, that clarification, along with implementing REAL ID and Enhanced Drivers Licenses represents a major step forward for security, both for New York and for the country.”

Spitzer Explains the Compromise

“As New Yorkers who have felt first hand terrorism’s brutal consequences, and who have known what it is like to have our communities under siege, we take the threat of terrorism very seriously,” said Governor Spitzer.

“This agreement represents a major step forward for national security and will make New York and the entire country safer. It allows us to continue moving forward to license undocumented immigrants securely, while also allowing New York to implement the steps necessary to avoid economic and convenience costs to all New Yorkers as new federal travel restrictions come into effect.”

“We are pleased DHS has worked with us to address many of our concerns about REAL ID, which allows New York to begin implementing the system so New Yorkers will not need a passport simply to board a plane. DHS also heard our concerns about the need to safeguard our Upstate economy, and agreed to allow us to provide an enhanced drivers license as an alternative to a passport to permit the free-flow of commerce across the New York-Canadian border.”

“This agreement also demonstrated the benefits of putting politics aside when advancing sound policy. I respect Secretary Chertoff’s feelings about providing undocumented immigrants with driver’s licenses, and applaud him and the Department of Homeland Security for recognizing that this is a state decision and that we can still implement such a policy in ways that will make the system safer and secure for all Americans.”

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 WPCNR THE REAL DEAL By The Wedding Jeannie, Jeannie Ulynik. October 26, 2007: Whenever I am interviewed for an article having to do with brides and grooms and their top regrets after the wedding, there are two primary things that couples always wish they could re-do.  We will go into the number one regret in next week’s column, and jump right into the second – not having video.  It always surprises me, even after eight years, how many couples sit down and sometime in the first half and hour of meeting with us, strongly suggest that there is no way that they want or would consider having a videographer.  There is such a vehement distaste at even the idea of someone videotaping the wedding, let alone hiring or paying a professional to do it. 

 

There are good reasons why.  Back in the days of sweet sixteen’s and Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s, the videographers that most couples in their 20’s and 30’s were seeing would leave anyone with lingering nightmares.  Large cameras, bright obnoxious lights and people operating the cameras who thought footage meant asking every guest what they thought of you, the party and life in general.  Clearly not a promising combination when flashing forward 20 years and wondering if you want to be subjected to a freak show. 

 

Generally, when we ask most couples why they are so opposed to video, they can’t really articulate the reasons, they just are sure that they don’t want it.  The irony, and the saddest part is that video is an amazing thing to have after a large event is over, not only for you but for your guests (who of course love to come over and see themselves in action) and for future generations. 

 

A Different World

 

Video is a very different species than it was back in the 80’s and 90’s.  Technology has gotten much smaller and better, affording videographers the ability to be lighter on their feet, completely inconspicuous and move quickly through an event with out leaving large lights and miserable guests in their wake.  HD recording now allows clear crisp images to truly capture every color, each detail and all the moments of the night without it looking like a cheap horror thrill.  HD technology can be expensive though and some firms or independent videographers don’t have the equipment readily available for each event (but renting is always an option). 

 

But even if you choose a videographer who shoots with standard cameras, the equipment is so much better than it used to be and the size of the equipment plays a huge role in not advertising that anyone is there taping your every move.  Additionally, the role of the videographer has changed; gone are the days where every person with a camera wants to ask guests how they are doing (although that does still exist as an option but in a very different/documentary style manner).  Videographers are extremely talented these days; most of the people with whom we work are award winning directors (two are Sundance directors and Cannes Festival winners).  They are artists, committed not only to capturing the emotion of the event, but also to producing a real story.

 

Options Offered

 

Some videography firms give you the option to choose your own music to set the tone, others offer to select it for you and see if you like their combinations – either way, the tunes behind the motion set a huge backdrop for good video, so it’s important to understand how that process works in post-production.  Much like with photographer, you need to find a videographer or firm who understands your needs, who is clear about the editing process (does the videographer do it or does someone else) and informs you of exactly what you will be getting (i.e. raw data, 20 minute edited documentary, 45 minute edited film, etc).  The options and packages abound.  You can hire one shooter, or you can opt for a two-camera shoot – a more expensive alternative of course, but one that captures the day at a variety of angles and produces a very different type of final video. 

 

It’s important to point out that if possible, hiring a photography/videography team is optimal, simply because it’s important that these two vendors work together seamlessly.  This is not often possible, nor advisable (particularly if you love a photographer’s work and he/she does not work with a videographer under the same package).  However, finding someone who understands the subtleties of working with someone else who is trying to capture all the same shots is essential.  You don’t want your videographer stepping on the photographers toes (literally or figuratively) and vice versa.  If your photographer (who is usually hired before the videographer) works with someone regularly, investigate their recommendation, but don’t just hire them just because it’s someone that was recommended. 

 

If you are still hesitant about the idea of video, keep a few things in mind: 

 

1) There is no other way to get moving images of your day; to hear your vows, the toasts or any other ceremonial/religious aspects of an event.  This is the best way to have your day forever captured. 

 

2)  In this technological age, you can control the elements of the videography, from the cameras, lights and sound that are used, to the person holding the camera. 

 

3)  The relative cost of videography in comparison to what you are spending on the entire event is generally minimal – and while it’s hard to find a really great team for less than $2000 (of course there are exceptions to the rule) if you are spending 10 times that for an event, isn’t worth it to put money towards capturing it forever?

 

One final note, in rare cases, if we really knew the couple well, we have pushed them to consider videographer and even forced them to hire one.  100% of the time, they come to us after the wedding and thank us – not for all our work, not for making their day a raging success, but for forcing them to reconsider the issue of videography.  Were I not so certain that anyone would end up feeling the same, it would not be the number 2 item on my list of regrets for the majority of couples!  Next week, we will reveal what the number one regret is across the board…..